COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONImperial Brown Ale
What could possibly be better than the combination of deep roasted malts, coffee, oak, and a smooth, creamy finish?

Ode To Mercy overflows with bold flavors woven into a very balanced and approachable beer that finishes with creamy lingering hints of oak, coffee (specially blended by Athens, GA’s 1000 Faces), and roasted goodness. Bright citrus hops peek through from time to time, adding additional layers of complexity.

Tasted in late November 2011 from a 12oz bottle at UncleJedi’s birthday tasting. Pours clear amber with an average off-white head that slowly recedes to thin lace. The nose is malty chocolate, coffee grounds, and a lightly spicy note. The flavor is malty chocolate up front, moving to nutty coffee grounds, the same spicy note from the nose, and some nicely roasted bitterness. The body is medium with lively carbonation and a long cocoa and bitter coffee finish.

Bottle. The pour was just a shade light of a clear medium brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) beige creamy head that dissipated slowly into a thin layer of foam creating some really nice lacing.
The aroma was of a dark roasted malt, a mild resin hop and a light leathery yeast with notes of roasted coffee, a bit of nuttiness and a mild hint of wood (oak).
The taste was malty and mildly bitter with a nice dose of coffee at first and then became a tad hoppy with a nice woody alcohol flavor towards the end. The flavor lingered for a good while after the swallow with a nice strong woody coffee flavor left behind on the taste buds.
Mouthfeel was a good medium in body and smooth and creamy in texture with a lively carbonation.
Overall a hoppy/woody Brown Ale that had the coffee and alcohol flavor blending together with everything else rather well.

I’ve had many Brown Ale’s before but this is my first Imperial Brown. Although this is not my favorite style I am impressed! Very smooth, creamy and drinkable for the ABV. I get the coffee and hops which is a pleasant surprise for a brown ale which to me is usually pretty one note and flavorless. This is by far the best Brown I’ve had and would get it again if I had the chance.

I wanted to like this, I really did. And it smells nice, too nutty and toasty. Flavor is alcohol. It says 8.2%, but seemed much higher. ugh. And I’m reading the commercial description and I notice that it says something about coffee. I did not perceive and coffee in any shape or form.

Bottle from Great Spirits. Pours brown with a thin khaki head. nice citrusy notes on the nose combining with some of the coffee. The hop flavor is a bit more pronounced on the tongue as is a vanilla thing. finishes clean. Very nice.

Pours clear, reddish brown w/ a fluffy, lingering tan head that sticks to the glass. Aromas of roasted malts, coffee with hints of wood, some spice, walnuts and a little banana and vanilla. Crisp, lively carbonation that rounds out to a smooth, creamy mouth. Flavors follow the nose. There were caramel and spice notes, as well as some bitterness that leaves a dry finish. Really enjoy this one.

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